Combination hay-rack.



No. 650,690. Patented May 29, |900.

V.1. McALLlsTEn. COMBINATION HAY RACK.

(Application led Dec. 5, 1899.)`

(Nn Model.)

` tori. Witgesses: mvg? Uur-runr STATES,

dPnt-ram Ormes.

JOHN MCALLISTER, OF ALBION, MICHIGAN.

COMBINATION HAY-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,690, dated May 29, 1900. Application mea December 5, 1899. serial No. 739,316. uro man.)

To @ZZ whom zit' may coil/cern;

Be it known that I, JOHN MoALLis'rER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Albion,in the countyof Oalhoun and State of Michigan, haveinventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Combination Hay-Racks, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to a combination hay-rack.

The objects of the invention are to provide a structure which can be easily attached or detached from the sides of the wagon-box, transforming the same from a wagon-box to a hay-rack, and vice versa, and by adjusting the sides adapting the rack to different uses, as for a stock-rack or wood-rack or for a wagon-box with extended continuous sides and for various purposes.

Further objects are to provide a folding hay-rack which shall be strong, durable, and easily manipulated and adjusted for other uses, to provide improved rack means for a folding hayrack, and to provide improved folding connections for a hay-rack which will adapt it for various uses.

Still further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish these objects of my invention by the devices and means described in this specification.

Theinvention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims, and the structure embodying my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a transverse detail sectional elevation through one side of my improved rack in position on one side of a wagon-box, showing the structure adj usted for use as a hay-rackand showing the outer side of the wingfolded into the dotted position to form a box with extended sides. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the structure, show` ing the same folded in a vertical position, the dotted lines indicating various adjustments adapting the same for use as a stockrack and as an extension forming a high tight wagon-box. Fig. 3 is an inside elevation of the structure appearing in Fig. 2 when detached from the Wagon-box and the sidefboards E E E removed. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. is a similar detail sectional View taken on a line corresponding to line 5 5 of Fig; 1, showing the pivotal connection and sliding joint at the inner end of the side pieces.

In the drawings similar letters'of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views. Y

All of the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the sectional lines.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A is a side-board of an ordinary Wagonbox, and A is a cross-piece underneath the same.

My improved structure consists of a set of folding arms for each side of the wagon-box or hayrack,with side rails or strips E E E. As these side arms are duplicates, I deem it only necessary to illustrate one of the same, there being as many on each side of the rack as the service seems to require.

Referring to the lettered parts, B is a standard having a stud B,adapted to insert through a hole or socket in the bottom cross-piece A' of the box. A hook Bl is provided to engage over the upper edge of the box. The body of the standard extends a few inches above the wagon-box, and a pivot a' is provided at that point. On this pivot a is supported the folding arm made up of sections O D. The section C is provided with a slot c, which embraces the pivot a and allows the arm to be slid along the same. The arm is bifurcated at this point, as clearly appears in Fig. 5. The brace is pivoted to embrace theupper end of the standard B, the relation of the brace4 appearing in Fig. 2 when the side is raised up to the vertical position. A slot b extends toward the outer portion, and a brace O' is pivoted at f on the standard B and extends upwardly and outwardly and is bifurcated at its outer end to embrace the outer portion of the arm C, and a pin b extends through the slot b to connect the brace C' to the arm. C by a sliding connection which permits the same to be folded. vA thumb-screw fr is provided at the outer end for locking the parts together where that seems desirable. The outer portion D of. the folding arm is connected tothe inner portion O by means of the link I, connected to each part by pivots n n. The meeting ends of the parts C D are square and when the outer portion of the rack is folded outward serve as shoulders to support the same. The side strips for the rack are so arranged that the outer strip E", when the outer portion is folded in, rests between the strips E E@ which are supported toward the outer and inner end of therarm C,tlie position of this portion being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The strip E is notched opposite the links I to allow the saine to fold upwardly at that point and permit the folding of the outer portion of the side of the rack over onto the inner portion. It will be ob served that this folding of the rack, as appears in Fig. l, makes the side of thc Sallie practically continuous, which adjusts the rack for hauling fertilizer, rubbish, garden truck, and the like. The inner end of the arln C is provided with a projecting shoulder on each of its bifurcated sides, and a shoulder e is provided on each side of the standard at the base of the hooks B. The purpose of this is that when folding the rack so that the sides come to the vertical position the same will be securely locked in place, for it will be observed that when the sides of the rack are swung to the vertical position it will descend, owing to the slots a b, and the shoulder c will engage the shoulder e, locking the rack to this position, as clearly appears in Fig. 2. The rack will be found to set normally in its position, but for greater security the;thumb-screw rmay be tightened, when the parts are securely fastened together. The outer portion E" can be held in the extended position by the end board or gate of the rack if it is desired to have the rack to the full height, or this part can be held as appears in Fig. 1 and the structure form a high tight box.

It will thus be seen that my improved hayrack is adjustable for any use to which any rack can be adapted; that the same is very convenient; that the expense is very light in addition to the wagon-box; that the parts are easily removed and stored in the flat, rcquiring very little storage-room, and as the rack is thus easily handled in sections it is very convenient and can be easily removed or atd tached. In a wagon-box, however, I desire to state that the improved folding of it can be adapted to racks in which the box is a permanent part of the rack and not detachable at all. As this st-ructure is obvious, it will not need illustration. I desire to state also that while the preferred material for my rack is malleable-iron castings the same can be made of other materials with proper adaptation. lVhile the thumb-screw is desirable, it is not essential, and the other features of my improved rack could be utilized without making the outer portion of the sides hinged, and even the outer hinged port-ion might be omitted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hay-rack the combination of the side made upof a series of folding portions consisting of the vertical standard B with a stud B to fit in a hole in the cross-piece and a hook B" to go over the top of the body-box; a folding arm made up of sections C, D engaging pivot A by slots a at the inner end of said folding arm; shoulders c on said arm at the inner end to engage the shoulders e at the top of the box; a brace C pivoted to the standard B at fand with a pivot l) engaging a slot b' in the arm C; a link I connecting the portions C and D together, the meeting portions of which are squarely shouldered to serve as a brace and the strips E, E', E positioned so that the outer strip can fold between the two inner ones; all arranged and coacting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. In a hay-rack the combination of the detachable standard B; the folding arm C, D

containing a suitable slot at its inner end to..

3. In a hay-rack the combination of thcstandard B; the folding arm C, D containing a suitable slot at its inner end to engage a pivot at the top of the standard; a brace C/ pivoted to the standard and having a pivot at its upper end extending into a slot in the portion C of the folding arm; asct-screw1l to lock the same; a shoulder at the inner end of the folding arm, and a shoulder on they standard to be engaged thereby whereby the arms can be folded to the Vertical position to hold the side of the rack in that position or the side extended outward for the purpose specified.

4. In a hay-rack the combination of the detachable standard B; the folding arm C, D containing a suitable slot at its inner end to engage a pivot at the top of the standard; a brace C pivoted to the standard and having a pivot at its upper end extending into a slot in the portion C of the folding arm; a shoulder at the inner end of the folding arm, and a shoulder on the standard to be engaged thereby whereby the arms can be folded to the vertical position to hold the side of the rack in that position, or the side extended outward for the purpose specified.

5. In a rack the combination of the standard B; the folding arm C, D containing a suitable slot at its inner end to engage a pivot at the top of the standard; a brace C pivoted to the standard and having a pivot at its up'- IOO IIC

per end extending into a slot in the portion C of the folding arm; a shoulder at the inner end of the folding arm, anda shoulder on the standard to be engaged thereby whereby the arms can be folded to the vertical position to hold the side of the rack in that position, or the side extended outward for the purpose specified.

6. In a hay-rack, the combination of a folding arm C, D, pivoted at its inner end by pivot in a suitable slot; a brace pivoted at each end, the pivot at its upper end being in a suitable slot in said arrn to permit the folding of the same in a vertical position, the means for locking the same into position, as specified.

7. In a hay-rack,the combination of the folding arm consisting of two sections, the meeting ends of said sections being squared a link hinging the parts together so that the outer section can be folded onto the inner seotion, to form a continuous side-board, as specified.

8. In a hay-rack, a combination of folding sides composed of two sections, a link hinging the sections together so that the outer section can be folded upon the inner section to form a continuous side-board, for the purpose specified.

9. In a hay-rack a combination of folding sides composed of two sections hinged together so that the outer section can be folded upon the inner section to form a continuous side-board, as specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MCALLIS'IER. 

